Palma's Asian Restaurant in Crestview, Florida, was cited for 14 violations in Okaloosa County

Palma's Asian RestaurantPhoto byFacebook

Palma's Asian Restaurant, a popular spot for Asian and Mexican cuisine in Crestview, Florida, was cited for 14 violations, including five high-priority infractions, during a routine inspection by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

While the restaurant located at 1051 South Ferdon Blvd in Okaloosa County was not forced to close, follow-up inspections are required to address the issues.

This is What Happened During The Inspections

The initial inspection, conducted on October 10, 2024, found a number of issues, such as unsuitable food handling, temperature management problems, and unacceptable cleaning conditions.

Inspectors highlighted five high-priority violations, with food safety and temperature management issues topping the list.

State records revealed that the restaurant's dishmachine failed to meet acceptable cleaning standards, and raw animal products were found stored incorrectly near ready-to-eat foods.

Other considerations included a dead roach on the kitchen floor, employees eating in food preparation areas, and lack of written procedures for time as a general health management. A stop sale was issued for milk containers stored in direct contact with drink ice.

The Follow-up Inspection

A subsequent review on October 16 showed significant improvement, with all but one violation addressed. However, a third inspection was deemed necessary to ensure full compliance.

Despite these setbacks, Palma's Asian Restaurant boasts an impressive 4.7-star rating from 216 Google reviews, highlighting its popularity among locals.

Karina Avila, a recent customer, shared on Google reviews after a visit:

The food is very good! The place is a little small but the food definitely makes up for it.

High Priority Violations:

• Unsuitable sanitizer strength in dishmachine
• Employees not washing hands before gloving
• Raw animal food stored incorrectly
• Stop Sale issued for milk in ice machine

Intermediate Violations:

• Inaccessible handwash sink
• Lack of written time management procedures

Basic Violations:

• Litter buildup on equipment
• Dead roach on premises
• Employees eating in limited areas
• Non-operational tap
• Unsuitable food thawing method